LFL and Burns no match for #1 2A Lady Tigers

By: Cory Griffith - Updated: 1 year ago

Posted Jan 19, 2018

The number one team in 2A put on quite a show for the full house Friday night at Tiger Gym. Miranda Gilkey buried a three pointer just 20 seconds in and Amanda Smith sank a 15 foot jumper, with the free throw and NCHS was off and running. The 15-5 lead with two minutes left hit a snag, as LFL showed their only life of the game. The Lady Doggers went on an 8-4 run as they stifled Lusk and got within 19-13 after one period. Trisha Hales had her best offensive game of the season with ten of her 15 points coming in the first half. Gilkey made another trey, and with Smith the senior trio combined for 19 points in the second quarter. The score was 40-16 at halftime and aside from freshman Courtney Rowley leaving the game with a bloody nose, everything was clicking for NCHS.

In the second half it was more of the same against the overmatched visitors. Hales sank a three pointer off an inbounds play, while Taylor Gaukel and Mackenzie Lyons combined for ten points in a 17-4 quarter for the Lady Tigers. While the starters went to the bench early in the final period, NCHS kept the points coming from everyone involved. For the third time this season Lusk scored more than 70 points, as 11 players got in the scorebook in the 79-22 victory. It is the most points scored since a December game at Glenrock in 1999 (remember the Y2K scare?).

Saturday at Burns Gilkey and Smith again powered the offense early with 18 of the 20 first period points. Lusk led 20-6 while the Lady Broncs tried to keep it close going into halftime. The lead was 31-16 as the Lady Tigers wore down Burns in the second half. The lead was 19 points after three before the final came in a 57-30 weekend sweep (6-0 for NCHS).

The JV gave up six first quarter points to LFL, but had little trouble in the two periods played with a 33-6 win. Shaw scored nine and Sturman 5. At Burns they won 48-29 as Rowley led with 11 points, followed by Christianson’s ten. Lyons and Graham each dropped seven points.

The upcoming weekend is a big one for the Lady Tigers as Southeast comes to Tiger Gym Friday evening before a trip to the Hornet’s Nest on Saturday. Friday the JV plays at 4 with varsity at 5:30 p.m. Game times in PB are 11:30 a.m., 1 and 2:30 p.m.